22 Scurry From Downtown Waukegan Fire

Twenty-two people were left homeless Tuesday after a fire sent dense smoke through downtown Waukegan, closing several buildings.

No injuries were reported in the afternoon blaze that apparently began on the third floor of a three-story brick building at 114 N. Genesee St., firefighters said.

The nearby Lake County Courthouse was evacuated after the fire apparently caused an electricity failure there.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Ald. Ray Vukovich, whose ward includes the downtown area, said renters occupied an estimated five apartments on the building`s second and third floors. Brandt Uniform on the first floor suffered smoke and water damage, officials said.

Authorities said about 22 occupants, including 10 children, were taken to the Waukegan police station, where Red Cross officials were looking for a place to relocate them.

The fire burned the roof off and destroyed the third floor, officials said. The first and second floors suffered extensive water and smoke damage, fire officials said.

``There was heavy, heavy smoke,`` said John Kruse, a Waukegan fire lieutenant. ``The inversion in the air was holding the smoke down. All the businesses were complaining of smoke in their buildings southwest of the fire.``

About 50 firefighters from Waukegan, Gurnee, Zion and North Chicago responded, he said.

At the fire`s peak, flames were coming out of the windows, and the fire attracted a large crowd of onlookers, firefighters said.

The blaze was fanned by northeast winds, which were blowing across the south end of downtown and directly into the nearby courthouse and the county jail complex, authorities said.